8 Tourist Scams in Kampala

You flag down a boda-boda (motorcycle taxi) in central Kampala for a quick ride.

The driver seems friendly and agrees on a fare. But instead of taking the direct route, he veers into a quieter neighborhood. A second motorcycle pulls alongside and the riders demand your phone, bag, and cash. Redditors on r/africa and the UK government's travel advisory both warn that mugging of foreign nationals on boda-bodas has involved violence and weapons. Some riders pretend to have mechanical trouble on dark roads while accomplices close in from behind.

You find an incredible deal online for a gorilla trekking safari -- $800 when legit operators charge $2,000+.

The website looks professional with stolen photos and fake TripAdvisor badges. You pay by wire transfer. When you arrive in Kampala, the 'office' doesn't exist or your guide claims he never received payment and demands cash. Redditors on r/travel have reported operators like Volvo Safaris and Azas Safaris taking full payment, then canceling trips or providing uninsured vehicles with uncertified guides. Some scammers even clone email addresses of reputable companies to divert bookings.

You're walking near a forex bureau on Kampala Road when a man in plain clothes flashes what looks like a police badge.

He claims there's been a wave of counterfeit currency and needs to 'verify' your money. He asks you to show him your bills, fans them out for 'inspection,' and during the process palms several large notes before handing the stack back. If you refuse, he threatens arrest. Redditors on r/africa note that real Ugandan police do not conduct random currency checks on the street, and these impersonators specifically target tourists near money exchange points.

You venture into Kampala's chaotic Old Taxi Park to catch a matatu.

The park is a teeming mass of minibuses, touts shouting destinations, and bodies pressing in from every direction. In this controlled chaos, organized pickpocket teams work seamlessly. One person jostles you, another distracts with a question about your destination, and a third lifts your phone or wallet. Redditors on r/africa describe one victim whose laptop was replaced with bricks inside her bag during a matatu ride -- she didn't notice until she got off. Owino Market next door is equally notorious.

You're approached near your hotel in Kololo by a well-spoken young person who shows you ...

You're approached near your hotel in Kololo by a well-spoken young person who shows you heartbreaking photos of orphaned children on their phone. They claim to run a small orphanage and need donations for food, medicine, or school fees. They have a handwritten letter 'from the children' and suggest you visit. Redditors on r/africa warn that many of these operations are outright fraudulent -- investigations have revealed children being deliberately kept in poor conditions to generate sympathy, with donations pocketed by organizers. Some 'orphans' actually have living parents.

You need Ugandan shillings and a man outside a forex bureau offers a better rate than the posted one inside.

He counts the shillings quickly and everything seems correct. But during the exchange, he uses a rigged calculator to show the 'right' amount, distracts you with rapid conversation, and slips in lower-denomination notes that look similar. You walk away thinking you got 500,000 UGX but actually received 300,000. Redditors on r/travel warn that street exchangers near Kampala Road specifically target tourists who are unfamiliar with the different banknote denominations.

You receive a small mobile money deposit of 1,000-2,000 UGX on your Ugandan SIM card from an unknown number.

Moments later, someone calls claiming they sent the money by mistake and asking you to send it back — but to a different number. If you comply, they then initiate a reversal of the original transaction, meaning you lose both the amount you sent and the original deposit. A Reddit user on r/Uganda described this as one of the most common modern scams in Kampala, noting scammers use these small amounts to bait people into larger losses.

Your private driver is taking you from Kampala to Jinja when you are stopped at a checkpoint by ...

Your private driver is taking you from Kampala to Jinja when you are stopped at a checkpoint by uniformed officers who claim there is a problem with the vehicle registration or your visa. The officer takes a long time examining documents and hints that a 'fine' could be resolved on the spot for 50,000-100,000 UGX. A Reddit user on r/Uganda described witnessing this bribery firsthand on a private Uber ride, noting that the driver seemed familiar with the routine and negotiated the bribe down. Tourists in the backseat are sometimes approached separately and asked to show their passport.